Connector



E. H. REED March 26, 1940.

CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet i Filed May 27. 1938 EDWARD H. REED March 26; 1940. H, E 2194,76 9

commcTox Filed May 27 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWARD HREED Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES 2.194.169 v commerce";

Edward H. Reed, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The .Pyle-National Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 27, 1938, Serial No. 210,339

11 Claims. (o1.1'zs' 32s) The present invention relates to a connector and more particularly to a separable connector including two members which are united and disconnected by rectilinear movement, and which members are provided with the usual contacts,

also with cooperating means for automatically locking them together when the contacts, reach fully engaged position and whichlocking means are operable automatically to uncouple when an abnormal separation pull is applied to the-connected members.

The invention has herein been illustrated and will be described in connection with a plug and receptacle arrangement for use in external electrical conductors wherein the receptacle is" shown as of the type adapted to be attached to a wall or other support. However, it is to be understood that the invention is applicable generally to connectors of other forms which comprise two separable members normally connected together in circuit relationship.

An object of the present invention is to provide a separable electrical connector with means for automatically locking the members together and which locking means become automatically operable to unlock when abnormal pulling strain is applied to the members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a separable electrical connector comprismg parts which may be locked together by rectilinear movement of the parts toward each other and which may be manually unlocked by manip ulation of certain of the locking means. 1

A further object of the present invention is to provide a separable electrical connector comprising parts which are forced'together and apart -by rectilinear movement and which are locked together by a finger rockable on one memberengageable with a pin on the other member, 40 together with means for unlocking the locking means when abnormal pulling strain is applied to the parts.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel locking means.

and which fingers are operable by manual manipulation to release the locking engagement of the members. The invention has for a further object the provision of a two-part electrical separable connec- 5 tor in which one of the parts is provided with a projecting pin, theother part is provided with -a separable electrical connector including two 15 parts, one of which, the receptacle, is equipped with suitable female contact members and the otherof which, the plug, is provided with the usual male prongs for establishing electrical connections in a manner well understood. One oi. 30 these parts is equipped with pins and the other part with spring fingers having intermediate indented portions, said other part being provided also with cam surfaces to engage the indented portions .of the fingers to automatically release 25 the fingers from holding engagement with the pins, when an abnormal pulling strain is applied to the parts. 1 The above, other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent-from the fol- 0 lowing description and accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrateembodiments of, the present invention and the views thereof are as iollowsz' i l Figure l is an elevational view, partially in 5 section, showing a two-part separable connector in circuit making relationship with the locking means engaged. 4

Figure 2, is a perspectiveuview of the spring finger device of the locking means, as shown in 40 Fig. 1. I I

Figure 3 is a fragmental view, partially in elevation and partially insection, showing relationship of certain of the parts as one of the parts showing the two parts in connected relationship.

Figure 5 is a view, partially in elevation and, partially in central section, taken on-- the line 5 fat V--V of Fig. 4 showing the locmng means in looking relationship.

Figure 6 is a fragmental view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the arrangement in Fig. 5 showing the parts partially separated and the manner of automatically disengaging the locking means of the two parts under D11 1- Figure '7 is an elevational view of a connector provided with a modified form of automatic locking and unlocking means.

Figure 8 is an end view of the plug or left-hand member of Figure 7.

Flgme 9 is a view, partially in axial section,

Figure 13 is a fragmental view, partially in section and partially in elevation taken substantially in the plane indicated by line XIII- XHI of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is an isometric view of the spring element utilized in this form of the invention.

The drawings will now be explained:

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a receptacle A is provided with a flange I whereby it may be attachedto a suitable support such as a wall 2, by bolts 3. The receptacle isequipped with an insulating body 4 in which are mounted either male or female contacts for receiving either female or male contacts respectively on-the plug B, when the plug is connected to the receptacle in circuit making relation.

' As the construction of the insulating body 4 of the receptacle and a similar body inthe plug B form no part of, the present invention, the same have not been shown or described.

The receptacle casing is shown as provided withpins 5 and 6 projecting from opposite points in its peripherywhich pins are suitably secured in place.

The plug B is shown as provided with a. beveled flange I at the end thereoi which normally contacts the receptacle when the parts are connected; A unitary structure, illustrated in Fig. 2, is applied to the plug B to cooperate with the receptacle for automatically locking and unlocking the plug and receptacle as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 2 is fashioned of spring material and'comprlses a bridle C of double U-shape formation, with a finger B riveted at 9 to an upper bridge portion of the bridle,

,and a similar finger l suitably rivetedto a lower portion of the bridle and preferably opposite to the finger a. Each of the fingers is prorespectively. The detent ll is formed with a subvided with an outturned outer end H and lire spectively and an intermediate detent I3, l4

stantially yertical wall I! and a .torw'ardly in-.

clined wall.l8, while the detent l4 isformed with asimilar substantially vertical wall I1 and a forwarmy inclined wall l8. Each of the fingers provided with an aperture it adjacent its free end.

The structure is secured to the plug B by means of rivets 20 passed through holes 2! formed in the end portions of the bridle and into the bevel i of the plug. The bevel l is, in Fig. 1, shown as formed with block portions 22 through which the rivets 2E3 pass. Any other manner of attaching the bridle to the plug might, of course, be

utilized.

The fingers 3 and it are so secured to the bridle that similar ends thereof project rearwardly forming thumb or finger pieces 23 and 2 respectively. The use of the bridle for mounting the fingers provides for relative endwise or axial movement as between the plug member B and the fingers. Y

A suitable cable, not shown, is interiorly connected to the contacts within the insulating body of the receptacle A while wires of the cable D are connected .to the contacts carried by the plug B, in a well understood manner. The cable D is attached to the plug B by means of a strain relief fitting E. "a

The formation of thebridle C and the fingers 8 and I 0 of spring material makes automatic connection and disconnection of the plug and receptacle easy' of accomplishment.

To connect the plug B to the receptacle A in circuit making relationship, the plug B is moved into the position shown in Fig. 1. During such movement, the upturned ends H and J2 of the fingers will ride over the pins 5 and 6 on the receptacle until the apertures IS in the fingers are in locked engagement with the pins 5 and 6 40 the inclined portions l6 and I8 of the detent lie against the bevel 'l of the plug, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. p 1

v For manual disconnection of the plug B from the receptacle A, the operatphgr sps the thumb pieces 23 and 24 of the fingersrocking the fingers about the detents as fulcra thereupon raising the ends of the fingers out of locked engagement with the pins 5 and 6, enabling withdrawal of the plu 1 Whenever abnormal pull is imposed on the cable D, it tends to move the plug B away from the receptacle, that is to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. Such tendency of the plug to move will cause the bevel I to engage the inclined faces of the detents raising the free ends of the fingers out of locking engagement with'the pins 5 and 6 and thus automatically unlocking the plug from the receptacle. Fig. 3 shows the finger 8 as partially disengaged from the pin 5 by reason of .the fact that the plug B has been moved tothe right due to the strain imposed on the cable, a distance to raise the free end of the finger from the pin 5.- A similar movement of the opposite finger l0 occurs.

movement of the parts toward or away from each other.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, a receptacle housing F is arranged for securement to a surface, such as a wall 25, by bolts or screws 26. The plug F is provided with a sleeve G adapted for limited rotative movement on the plug. 'A spring 21 is coiled about the plug for axial compression to permit axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the plug. The sleeve G is provided with a skirt 28 notched at 29 and a positioning screw 30 is applied to the plug within the notch to limit the extent of rotative movement of the sleeve with respect to the plug.

The sleeve G is formed with a cutout or notch 3| opening through the end of the sleeve which passes over the receptacle housing.

The receptacle housing is provided with projecting pins 32 and 33 which lie within the notches 3| ofthe sleeve when the plug is connected to the receptacle. There are shown two of the notches 3|, diametrically opposed relationship to conform to the position of the pins 32 and 33 in the receptacle housing.

Secured to the interior of the sleeve G are springs 34 and 35 being fastened by rivets 36- or equivalent attaching means. Each spring has an intermediate detent portion 31 and a lateral notch 38 near its free end. As may be observed in Fig. 4, the lateral width of the extremity 39 of a finger is less than the width of the balance of the finger so that when the plug is applied to the receptacle, the sleeve G is rotated in such manner that the narrow end of the spring will pass'by the pin and snap into engagement with the pin by rotative movement of the sleeve in opposite direction, to the locked position shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Manual unlocking is accomplished by forcing the sleeve G to the left a slight distance and then turning it to disengage the notch in the ends of the fingers from the pins, whereupon the plug 1 may be withdrawn.

Unlocking is accomplished whenever abnormal pulling strain is imposed on the cable D connected to the plug.

As may be observed in Fig. 5,.the end of the plug adjacent the receptacle body is provided with a beveled flange 49 which, when the plug is connected to the receptacle, underlies the detents 31 of the springs.

Thus abnormal pull imposed on the cable D will move the plug F to the right causing the beveled flange 4|) thereof to bear against. the

' detents 37 of the springs and raise the free ends Figure 6 illustrates the appearance of one of the spring fingers as the plug F has been moved a slight distance to the right, and before complete unlocking of the finger with its. pin has been accomplished.

The arrangement of the sleeve to allow lim? ited axial movement thereof with respect to its member provides for relative axial or endwise movement as between the member and the fingers.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

surrounding the plug and projecting beyond the extremities of the male or female contacts carried by it, and adapted for limited'rotative move ment on the plug. The sleeve is also capable of limited axial movement with respect to the plug.

A coiled spring 42 surrounds a portion of the plug at one end as at 43 secured to the plug and its other end suitably connected to the sleeve to normally urge the sleeve in one direction of rotation.

Thesleeve 4| is provided with one or more triangular cutout portions 44 into which project the heads 45 of screws secured in the plug. The disposition of the screws 45 and the shapes of the cutout portions 44 determinethe amount of axial and rotative movement of the sleeve,4|' with respect to the plug.

The receptacle H hasa detent 46 near its end which enters the sleeve 4|, as may-be observed in Fig.9. 4

The sleeve 4| is formed with a notch 41. A spring designated generally at L in Fig. 14.is fastened by its end 55 adjacent the margin of the sleeve 4| by rivets 48 as may-be observed in Fig. 9. The spring extends inwardly from the open margin of the sleeve and in side elevation is formed with an end or tail piece 56 which normallyrides over the plugK when the plug and receptacle are connected together in electrical association. There is an-intermediate hump 49 55 of the spring, it is split with one portion 50 extending toward the head 55 but stopping short of the same, while that part connected between the end 55 and the hump 49 is bent to provide a detent 5| which normally'engages the detent or hook-like part 46 of the receptacle when the parts are connected together as may be observed in Fig. 9.

When the plug and receptacle of this form of the invention are connected, they are connected by relative endwise movement. When the receptacle H is inserted in the sleeve 4|, the incline 58 of the spring L rides over the detent 46 formed on the body of the receptacle. This causes the detent or hook-like part 5| of the spring to'en gage behind the detent 46 of the receptacle to lock the parts together against endwise separation, the provision of the notch 41 in the sleeve allowing the hump portion 49 of the spring to rise as shown in Fig. 10 and thereby affords clearance for the operation of the spring.

Figure '7 shows the dotted line position of the detent 46 on the receptacle when it is locked with the detent 5| of the spring L.

To manually disconnect the plug and recep tacle, the sleeve may be rotated to position shown in Fig. 12, which moves the detent 5| of the spring away from the detent 46 of the receptacle and underneath the part 50 of the spring thereby allowing manual separation of the parts.

Should abnormal pull be imposed on the cables connected to the plug and receptacle, then there is a tendency for these parts to separate by endwise movement. This tendency to separate will cause the inclined portion 53 of the spring L, between the hump 49 and the tail piece 56, to ride up over the hump 52 on the plug K as illustrated in Fig. 10 thus freeing the detent or hooklike part 5| from holding engagement with the detent 46 of the receptacle H, allowing ready and automatic endwise separation of the parts.

To accommodate the spring L, the sleeve 4| is outwardly oflset providing an elongated hood 51 surface-of which the spring L is fastened as at d8.

It will be observed that the present invention provides means for automafically locking and unlocking a separable electric connector comprising a pair of connectible members. Such locking means comprises a detent or equivalent structure on one of the separable members and a locking spring on the other of the separable members. The said other of the separable members is provided with means for disengaging the spring from locked engagement with a detent on the first of the separable members by pry action, whenever there is imposed on the cables connected to said members, such abnormal pull as would otherwise pull the cables out of the connectors and thus disruptthe electric circuit in which the connector is utilized.

By abnormal pulling force is meant that which occurs rarely in ordinary use of external electric cable circuits such as might occur, for

example, when -a tool is connected by a cable equipped with a connector of the present in--' vention to amain power line, and the tool-is dragged over a fioor or rough surface, suclr as a railroad track, and a part of the cable catches in 4 inclined portion 53 and the hump .9.- A clip 54 some projection or un;derneath a snag while the operator of the tool continues to drag it by the possibility of a short circuit, and loss of time neei essary to repair the damage caused to the electric fine The spring 1. as illustratedih mg. 14. is shown as having a part of the metal of the samebent back on itself-to reinforce the tail piece 56, the

is secured around the hump portion to maintain the bent-back end of the spring material from becoming displaced in operation of the spring.

By abnormal endwise pulling force is meant 45 such force as is sufiicient to causesaid connected members to separate. That is to say, any force greater than that resulting from the design and construction of the locking means.

The arrangement and mounting of the fingers or tongues on their respective members of the connectors provide for limited endwise or axial movement between such fingers and the supporting members so that when abnormal pull tends to separate the members slightjrelative movement occurs between the members and the supported fingers-to enable the cams or protu-v berances to function to automatically lift the fingers from locked engagement with the pins,

thereby enabling'separation of the members.

The'invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention isnot to be thereby as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalentsmay be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as. follows:

1. A separable electric connector comprisinga plug member and a receptacle'member adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by relative endwise movementpmeans normally locking said members together and arranged to eifect release of said members when an abnormal pullis applied in 'use to said members to separate them, said amassein which is formed the notch er and to the under spring finger onthe other member; said finger having a part adapted to lock with said pin when said members are in fully engaged relation I move said other member endwise with respect to said finger thereby automatically disconnecting said members.

2. A device of the class described including a plug member and a receptacle member adapted to be connected and disconnected by relative endwise movement, means for locking said members together, said means including a sleeve on one'member capable of limited rotativ'e and axial movement. a detent on the other member, a

spring finger fixed to-said sleeve and having a laterally enterable notch for engagement with said detent, said members being locked together by manual rotativemovement of said sleeve in 'one direction to allow the finger end to pass said I detent and its notch to engage said detent by rotative sleeve movement in the opposite direcsaid finger having an inwardly directed inclined portion, said one member having a protuberance engageable with said inclined finger portion to lift said finger end from said detent as said members tend to endwise separation.

3. 'A separable electric connector comprising a tion whenhandhold is released from the sleeve,

pair of connectible members which are connected and disconnedted byrelativ'e endwise movement,

means for locking said members together, said means including a pin on one member, aspring finger fastened at one end to said other member and having its free end apel-tured to surround said pin and thus lock said members together" when the members are in fully engaged position, said finger having an inwardly directed indented portion between its ends constructed to allow limited endwisestretch of' said finger as said members tend to endwise separation and wheremovements, lockingmeans including a pin. and a springy tongue, said tongue being mounted on one of said members and adaptedto extend along the-other'of said members when said members are connected, said. tongue having'a part adapted to lock-with said pinwhen said membersarein fully engaged position, said pinbeing mounted on the other of saidmembers for interlocking with saidtongue when said members are infully'em gaged relation, means mounting said tongue on said one member, said last mentioned means beyieldable to permit limited relative axial or endwise. movement betwee'nsaid tongue and its one membenand means on said one member. exerting pry action against saidtongue to discon-j nect itfrom said pin when a pullingforce is applied tosaid memberssufiiclent to move saidone member endwlse with respect to said -tongue thereby automatically disconnecting said members.

5. A separable electric connector comprising a plug member and a receptacle member adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by relative endwlse movements, locking means including a pin and .a springy tongue, said tongue being mounted on fully engaged position, said pin being mounted.

on the other of said members for interlockin with said tongue when said members are in fully engaged relation, means mounting said tongue on said one member, said lastmentioned means being yieldable to permit relative axial or endwise movement between said tongueand its one member, and means immovably fixed on said one member exerting pry action against said tongueto disconnect it from said pin when a pulling.

force is applied to said members sufilcient to move said one member 'with respect to said tongue.

6. A separable electric connector comprising a plug member and a receptacle member adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by relative endwise movement, means to normally hold said members in locked coupled relation and arranged to eflect automatic uncoupling of said members when an abnormal pull is applied in use to said members,

to separate them, said means including a pin on one of said members and a springy finger, on the other of said members, said finger having a part adapted to lock with said pin when said members are in fully engaged relation, means yieldably pin when a pulling force is applied to said members sufiicient to move said other member with mounting said finger on said other member providing for relative endwlse movement between said finger and its member, and hump means on said other of said members acting against said finger with pry action to lift said finger from said tongue on one of said members and providing for relative axial or endwlse movement between said finger and said one member, said pin being mounted on the other 10f said. members, and

means onsaid one member exerting pry action against said finger to disconnect it from said pin when a pulling force is applied to said members sumcient to move said one member with respect to said tongue.

8. A separable electric connector comprising a plug member and a receptacle member adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by relative endwlse movement, locking means including a pin and a springy tongue. said tongue having apart adapted to loclr with said pinwhen said members are in fully engaged relation, a sleeve on one of said members capable of limited rotative and axial P movement with respect to said one member, said tongue being secured to said sleeve, said pin being secured to the other of said members, spring means normally urging said sleeve in one direction of rotation and in one direction of axial movement to maintain said tongue aligned with said pin as said members are being moved to assembled relation, and means on said one member exerting pry action against said tongue to disconnect it from said pin when a pulling force is applied to'said members sufilcient to move said one member with respectto said tongue and Y sleever 9. A separable electric connector comprising a plug member and -a receptacle member adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by relative endwlse movement, locking means including pins and springy tongues, said tongues having parts adapted to lock with said pins when said members are in fully engaged relation, said tongues being mounted on one of said members in a manner to permit limited axial or endwlse relative movement between said tongues and said one member, said tongues being formed with portions constituting teeth having inclined surfaces, said one member having inclined portions in contact with said surfaces of said teeth effective to automatically lift said tongues from said pins when endwlse pull is applied to the connected members sufficient to move said one member with respect to said tongues.

10. A separable electric connector comprising a plug member and a receptacle member adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by relative endwise. movement, means to normally hold said members in locked coupled relation and arranged to effect automatic uncoupling of said members'when an abnormal pull is applied in use to said members to separate them, said means including an element on one of saidmembers having limited axial movement with respect to said member, fingers secured to said element and movable with said,

element with respect,to said member, said fingers having parts overlying the other of said members when said members are in fully engaged relation, detents on the other of said members engaged by said fingers to hold said members together, and said one member having protuberant parts engageable with said fingers to pry them away I from the detents to automatically unlock said -members when endwise pull is applied to said members sufflcent to move said one member with respect to said element and its supported fingers.

11. A plug connector comprising two dielectric separable bodies, one of said bodies having radial projections onit, the other of said bodies havin axially extending spring fingers, said fingers having parts engageable with, said projections to lock said bodies against separation when said bodies are in fully engaged relation, meansmounting said fingers on the other of said bodies to permitrelative endwlse movement between said fingers and said body, the other of said bodieshaving beveled portions diver-gently directed toward said one of said bodies and bearing against the under surfaces of said fingers,

said fingers having tapered portions normally against said beveled portions. said beveled portions and said tapered portions being so shaped as to cause said beveled portions to lift said fingers from engagement with said projections as a pulling force is applied to said bodies suilicient to movethe other of said members-withrespect to said fingers. i

- EDWARD B; 

